All day XC Hardtail , steel or alloy….

Will shortly be replacing my 2013 Soul, one of the last 26’ers. Looking for something similarly comfy for longer days, adventuring, muddy manky night rides, some light bike packing. I have a FS for trail centres and big days.

Wanting something a bit longer than the old Soul, as since getting a modern geo Anthem the Soul feels a bit short and twitchy, even after tweaking bars and stem.

Currently looking at a Bird Zero TR, though hanging off for a few weeks to see what comes of the new edition Soul.

Alloy with boost though – how stiff and uncomfy will it feel compared to steel ?

Others that I may have overlooked ? Needs to be 27.5 and not convinced about Plus in the mud and on tight slow forest stuff, having demo’d a Tarn 20 the other week.

Will shortly be replacing my 2103

Jesus, the bike companies are bringing next years stuff out earlier and earlier…

cheers nobeer, edited 🙂

Alloy with boost though – how stiff and uncomfy will it feel compared to steel?

With modern forks, bigger wheels and bigger volume tyres, there will be no difference.

Although TBH I’d go for a 29er if a hardtail, especially one where you want to chew up the miles.

Steel.

TBH I’d go for a 29er if a hardtail,

+1

thanks for info so far. It’s definite 27.5 for me, my short legs prefer them, and for local night rides on tight stuff I like the feel.

Shame it needs boost.
I really like my On One Ti456 for the stuff we ride around here whether that be Drumlanrig or up over the Lowthers.

vince – doesn’t ‘need’ to be boost, but most new options seem that way…

I’m more trying to assess whether the added stiffness of Boost, plus alloy frame, will feel a lot harsher on a new 27.5 compared to my steel Soul 26er. My Anthem is Boost, with carbon rims and is stiffer than a stiff thing, but the suspension keeps it very comfy.

I bought a Pine Mountain as a do it all kind of bike, been great so far. Nobby Nics seem to be coping with the slop so far. Steel, boost (sort of!), 27.5, mounts for everything….

What about the rumoured new Soul?

^^^^^^

hanging off for a few weeks to see what comes of the new edition Soul.

🙂

vmgscot is that one of the 650b 456? I’ve been wondering what I’ll eventually replace my 1st generation ti 456 with. It’s hard to see past the price of the new ones.

Production privee Shan GT will take 29 wheels or 650+.
Beautiful frames with a lovely ride quality.

Gah. I must read stuff first… 😆

^^^^ I can believe that, but I am firmly in the 27.5, non-plus camp 🙂

EDIT – Yep .. 🙂

these are lovely!

^^^^ I can believe that, but I am firmly in the 27.5, non-plus camp

Normal Shan then. 😀

RD – I did have a look at those. I’d prefer an XT groupset to Sram though… and the tyres are a bit plus !

I have gone from Sanderson, the most sproingy steel bike I know, to Marin Nail Trail alloy in 27.5.

As ever, the tyres, wheels, seatpost, saddle etc make more difference than material.

I do miss the Sanderson, but the ride of the Marin is more balanced, faster and not yet had any uncomfy days.

cheers matt, good to know.

New Bfe or Switchback?

iainc – Member
RD – I did have a look at those. I’d prefer an XT groupset to Sram though… and the tyres are a bit plus !

not if you usually ride a fat bike, it’ll fit 29″ anyway. they are way looooooong though

stevenmenmuir – unfortunately not a Ti45650b but one of the VanNic built Ti456.

I also had a Gen1 but it broke at the brake mount (like a few did). I also don’t see me replacing this Ti456 until I can’t get 26r bits any longer – it’s a really nice ride for my local stuff.

I’m the same, it’ll have to be pulled from my cold dead hands, as long as I have parts for it.

I think you are totally over thinking the stiffness thing, I’d be surprised in a blind test if you could tell the difference between an alloy and steel frame, once you’ve stuck a 2.3″ tyre on it and some 120 mm shocks. Biggest issue on comfort will be the seatpost diameter.

dragon – that is very much what I am hoping for ! The Bird is likely a good bit cheaper than the Soul will be, for same spec

iainc – Member
RD – I did have a look at those. I’d prefer an XT groupset to Sram though…

Yep me too. But not anymore. Current XT is weak IME compared to SRAM. The cassette alone is medieval.

I think you are totally over thinking the stiffness thing, I’d be surprised in a blind test if you could tell the difference between an alloy and steel frame, once you’ve stuck a 2.3″ tyre on it and some 120 mm shocks. Biggest issue on comfort will be the seatpost diameter.

That’s true enough for vertical flex and seated comfort. Position, seat post size / extension and tyres seem to make most difference there. But out of the saddle with the bike leaned over,impacts that come off-center, any hauling on the bars vs the pedals etc, that’s where you feel a frame twist and flex, or not. Some of that flex is a good thing and I’d say it’s most of what people call the steel ride feel thing.
There’s alu frames out there that feel pretty close to / the same as some of the less whippy steel bikes ime. Just look for alu frames that don’t use big tube sections or ott shaped thick-wall tubes.

There’s alu frames out there that feel pretty close to / the same as some of the less whippy steel bikes ime. Just look for alu frames that don’t use big tube sections or ott shaped thick-wall tubes.

Jameso – any suggestions ? (even Pinnacle ones 🙂 ) The ideal bike would be 27.5, modernish geo, but not huge long like the Whyte, light and comfy, as much fun on the ups as the downs, 120 ish fork, dropper, xt group, under £2.5k bought as a full bike.

Alloy vs steel won’t make a difference, and boost isn’t actually stiffer*.

(*well it kind of depends really on specific frame design of course, – but a wider hub doesn’t make the frame stiffer, and won’t make the wheel stiffer vertically – although the wheel will in any case be a stiff thing vertically)

I absolutely love riding my MK2 Stanton Slackline and I think it may fit your requirements too.

Alloy for me one of these:

Kinesis Phase 5 £250

EDIT: I have the MK1 and love it

That Stanton looks pretty ideal….

I have a Stanton Slackline too and it looks lovely in the flesh.

The ideal bike would be 27.5, modernish geo, but not huge long like the Whyte, light and comfy, as much fun on the ups as the downs, 120 ish fork, dropper, xt group, under £2.5k bought as a full bike.

This year I built a new Commencal META HT for £1,500 with a full XT 11-speed group, Easton cockpit / carbon bars, Yaris, decent tubeless wheels, dropper etc…for under £1,500.You shouldn’t need to spend what is the price of a carbon YT on a HT unless it’s Ti.

The ideal bike would be 27.5, modernish geo, but not huge long like the Whyte, light and comfy, as much fun on the ups as the downs, 120 ish fork, dropper, xt group, under £2.5k bought as a full bike.

Under £1k gets you that Marin I have from Rutland with Yari, wideish light wheels and SLX, leaving £1500 for an xt mech+shifter, carbon bar and better tyres. Should be doable. 😉

One of the nice things about steel is the way that this skinnier tubes look, I think they look ace

Both my MTBs are steel, but both 29er

benp1 – Member
One of the nice things about steel is the way that this skinnier tubes look, I think they look ace

Both my MTBs are steel, but both 29er

Same here. Plus a steel fat bike too.

Lots to think about, cheers. Heart says steel and wait for the new Soul of stretch to a Slackline…